ISLAMABAD: Shakeel Qarar of Azad Panel was elected president of the National Press Club (NPC) for 2019, defeating Shakeel Anjum of Journalist Panel.

More than 2,300 members exercised their right to vote at the NPC elections held on Tuesday.

Shakeel Qarar bagged 1,036 votes while Shakeel Anjum got 960 votes.

Besides, Saadia Kamal also from Azad Panel was elected vice president on the women’s seat. She obtained 878 votes.

All the other posts were won by the candidates belonging to the Journalist Panel.

The other presidential candidates including Matiullah Jan of Jago Panel got 235 votes, Sharjeel Amjad Rao 57 votes, Naseeb Elahi nine and Babar Mughal 10 votes.

The post of general secretary went to Anwar Raza of Journalist Panel who obtained 766 votes and his runner-up Shahryar Khan of Azad Panel took 722 votes.

The other candidates for the general secretary slot were Nasir Malik who got 251 votes, Zaigham Naqvi 374 votes, Shakeel Ahmed 71 votes, Haroon Kamal Raja 61 votes and Farrukh Nawaz Bhatti 12 votes.

The three vice president-elect are Ahmed Nawaz Khan bagging 820 votes, Raja Khalil Ahmed Mahmood 746 votes and Shah Mohammad 607 votes.

The three joint secretaries-elect are Syed Shiraz Ali Gardezi who obtained 856 votes, Ahtishamul Haq 840 votes and M. Nadeem Chaudhry 755 votes.

Shakila Jaleel got 854 votes to secure women’s seat for joint secretary.

The post of finance secretary was won by Sagheer Ahmed Chaudhry who obtained 860 votes and his runner up Khawar Nawaz Raja secured 750 votes.

The counting of votes for 15 slots of governing body will be held on Thursday (today).

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2019